US7456389B2ActiveUtilityA1

High throughput quadrupolar ion trap

88
Assignee: THERMO FINNIGAN LLCPriority: Jul 11, 2006Filed: Jul 11, 2006Granted: Nov 25, 2008
Est. expiryJul 11, 2026(~0 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Viatcheslav V. Kovtoun
H01J 49/4295H01J 49/4225H01J 49/423H01J 49/427
88
PatentIndex Score
9
Cited by
7
References
25
Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for operating a linear ion trap. A linear ion trap configuration is provided that allows for increased versatility in functions compared to a conventional three-sectioned linear ion trap. In operation, the linear ion trap provides multiple segments, the segments spatially portioning an initial population of ions into at least a first and a second ion population. Each segment is effectively independent and ions corresponding to the first ion population are able to be manipulated independently from ions corresponding to ions corresponding to the second ion population; the ions having been generated by an ion source under the same conditions. The ions can then be expelled from the ion trap.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A method for operating a linear ion trap, the method comprising:
 a. trapping an initial population of ions in the ion trap; 
 b. spatially partitioning the initial population of ions into at least two ion populations, including at least a first and a second ion population; 
 c. manipulating at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the first ion population independently from at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the second ion population, prior to expelling the ions from the linear ion trap. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the first ion population is manipulated simultaneously to at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the second ion population. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of manipulating comprises fragmenting ions. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of manipulating comprises isolating ions having a desired range of mass-to-charge ratios. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first ion population has a mass-to-charge ratio different from the range of mass-to-charge ratios of the second ion population. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the initial ion population has a broad range of mass to charge ratio values, and the first ion population has a narrow range of mass to charge values that is narrower than that of the initial ion population. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the broad range is between 200 and 4000 Th. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the narrow range is between 200 and 2000 Th. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the narrow range is between 2000 and 4000 Th. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 a linear ion trap having a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being divided into sections; 
 a controller configured to apply voltages to sections of the plurality of electrodes to establish at least a first and a second segment within the linear ion trap, the first and the second segments respectively confining first and second ion populations; and 
 the controller being further configured to apply or vary applied voltages to sections of the plurality of electrodes to facilitate manipulation at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the first ion population independently from ions corresponding to the second ion population, prior to expelling ions from the linear ion trap. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the controller is further configured to apply or adjust voltages to sections of the plurality of electrodes to facilitate the ions corresponding to the first ion population to be manipulated simultaneously to the ions corresponding to the second ion population. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the manipulation comprises fragmentation of ions. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the manipulation comprises isolating ions having a desired range of mass-to-charge ratios. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first and second ion populations comprise ions of different mass ranges. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 each of the plurality has three sections. 
 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 each section comprises a three-section electrode structure. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for operating a linear ion trap, the method comprising:
 a. trapping a spatially partitioned population of ions, the spatial partitioning being such that at least two ion populations are provided, a first and a second ion population; 
 b. maintaining the spatial partitioning in the linear ion trap; and 
 c. manipulating at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the first ion population independently from at least a portion of the ions corresponding to the second ion population, prior to expelling ions from the linear ion trap. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the ions in first and second ion populations are manipulated simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the step of manipulating comprises fragmenting ions. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the step of manipulating comprises isolating ions having a desired range of mass-to-charge ratios. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first ion population has a range of mass-to-charge ratios different from the range of mass-to-charge ratios of the second ion population. 
 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the initial ion population has a broad range of mass to charge ratio values, ions corresponding to the first ion population having a narrow range of mass to charge values that are narrower than that of the initial ion population. 
 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the broad range is between 150 and 4000 Th. 
 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the narrow range is between 150 and 2000 Th. 
 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the narrow range is between 2000 and 4000 Th.

Cited by (0)

No later patents cite this yet.

References (0)

No backward citations on record.